Aviation

Brazilian Airline Plans Purchase of COMAC C919 Jets

Brazilian airline Total Linhas Aereas, a small cargo and charter carrier, is in advanced talks to become the first company outside Asia to purchase aircraft from China’s state-owned planemaker, COMAC.

As reported by Reuters, This move signals COMAC’s ambition to penetrate a global passenger jet market traditionally dominated by Western manufacturers.

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Paulo Almada, Total Linhas Aereas’ controlling partner, revealed that discussions have been ongoing for several months. He is set to visit COMAC in October to discuss a potential order of up to four C919 aircraft.

The airline views this as a strategic opportunity, particularly since Embraer, a major Brazilian manufacturer of regional jets, cannot deliver new planes before 2026, while Airbus and Boeing’s slots are only available by 2028. The earlier delivery timeline from COMAC could give Total Linhas Aereas a competitive edge.

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COMAC’s C919 is a direct competitor to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, offering seating for up to 192 passengers, c919 vs a320 compared to the 146-seat capacity of Embraer’s E195-E2.

This difference makes the c919 more suitable for Total Linhas Aereas’ expansion plans. Although Embraer is based in Brazil, the negotiations with COMAC represent a pivotal moment in the country’s aviation industry.

Senator Rogerio Carvalho from Brazil’s ruling Workers Party highlighted that if the deal with COMAC progresses, Brazil would anticipate increased Chinese demand for Embraer jets in return. While Almada confirmed plans to initially acquire four C919s, comac c919 price details about potential purchases of COMAC’s smaller ARJ21 aircraft remain undisclosed.

Aviation

Did you know ? Once Boeing 747 carried 1088 passenger in 1991

In 1991, during Operation Solomon, Israel aimed to airlift 14,000 people from Ethiopia within 36 hours. The effort was intense, with a strong focus on evacuating as many individuals as possible from the country.

At the forefront of this operation was the Boeing 747, known as the “Queen of the Skies,” which transported nearly 1,088 passengers.

Due to the urgent circumstances, all passengers were seated on the aircraft floor, despite the Boeing’s typical maximum capacity being around 660 passengers as per manufacturer specifications.

The aircraft was granted special approval to take off under these exceptional conditions.

Amid political tensions and military reforms in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government requested the Jewish community to leave the country, providing them with a limited window for evacuation. In response, the community organized an airlift to facilitate their safe departure.

A fleet of 35 Israeli aircraft, including C-130s from the Israeli Air Force and El Al Boeing 747s, was deployed for the mission. These aircraft flew non-stop, successfully transporting most of the Ethiopian Jewish community to Israel in one of the largest airlift operations in history.